Bolster for toy vehicles



Oct. 4, 1932. c. c. BLACKMORE BOLSTER FOR TOY VEHICLES Filed Feb. 9.1931 //v vnvrm. CHARL 5 a. BLACK/WORK Patented Oct. 4, 1932 UNITE ST rl,880,7l-8

CHARLES C. BLAOKMORE, or DAYTON, OHIO, AssrGnoR rotrrrn DAYTON rorasSPECIALTY COMPANY, or DAYTON, onto, A GDRPORATION or OHIO BOLSTEB FORTOY VEHICLES Application filed February 9, 1931. Serial No. 514,446.

This invention relates to a bolster or axle supporting member for a toyvehicle. In toy vehicles the axle is usually supported in openings in asheet metal bolster which is secured to the body of the vehicle, such asthe bed of a coaster wagon. The axle is not supposed to rotate in theseopenings but in practice it usually does so rotate unless special meansare provided for preventing its rotation and in the cheaper class ofvehicles it is not practical to provide such means. It frequentlyhappens that the rotation of the axle in the openings of the bolsterwill result in the edges of the opening cutting into the axle to such anextent as to weaken the same and cause it to break.

7 One object of the present invention is to provide an axle supportingmember, for a toy vehicle or the like, of such a character that the axlewill not be injuredby its rotation in the supporting member.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a supporting memberwhich may be produced at a low cost and without the use of additionalparts.

Other objects of the invention may appear as the device is described indetail.

In the accompanying drawing Fig.1 is aperspective view of a bolsterembodying my :9 invention, showing the axle mounted therein; Fig. 2 is alongitudinal sectional view taken through such a bolster; Fig. 3 is anelevation of the inner side of one of the end portions of the bolster;and Fig. 4 is a detail view of a portion of the bolster showing thebearing opening.

In the drawing I have illustrated one embodiment of the invention andhave shown the same as applied to a bolster of a well known type but itwill be understood that the invention may take various forms and beapplied to axle supporting members of various kinds.

In the construction here illustrated the bolster 5 is approximatelyU-shape in form.

The transverse portion 6 is provided with bolt holes 7 by means of whichit may be secured to the body of the vehicle. The end portions 8 arebent downwardly to an upright position but are here shown as flaredoutwardly so that the lower ends thereof lie in planes on the outersides of the verticalplanes extending through the upper ends thereof,The lateral edges of the bolster are bent downwardly and inwardly toform flanges 9 which reinforce and stiff-en the bolster. Each downwardlyextending part of the bolster is provided near its lower end withanopening 10'to receive the axle 11 and is also provided with a laterallyextending part 12 arrangedin line with the edge of the opening andadapted to receive and support the axle. This inwardly extending part isof such a. character that it will providea relatively wide bearingsurface for the axle and, 5 further, the construction is such that theopening has no edges which would tendto out p the axle. The bolster isformed from sheet metal and the laterally extending axle supportingparts7 are preferably in the form of bosses extruded from the metal of thebolster about the respectiveopenings. The bolster is constructed byfirst punching out a. blank of the proper size and shape by the use ofsuitable dies, and in this operation the axle receiving open ings 10 areformed and the metal extruded to provide the boss 12. The blank is thenformed, on other dies, to impart the desired shape thereto and the innerforming die is so constructed that the boss 12, which extends inwardlyfrom the bolster, between the flanges, will not engage the end of thedie or in any way interfere with the completion of the formingoperation. This may be ac-. complished by'recessing the ends of the die.Consequently the bolster may be provided with my improved axle supportwithout any additional operation in the production there V of andwithout the use of additional partsand can therefore be produced at acost little if any in excess of the cost of producing the ordinarybolster.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention I wishit to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the detailsthereof as various modifications may occur to a person skilled in theart..

Having now fully describedmy invention,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

In a toy vehicle, an axle supporting member formed of sheet metal,having an axle 5 receiving opening and having the metal ex- I trudedabout said opening to providea relatively wide supporting surface forthe axle. In testimony whereof, I affix my signature hereto. I a vCHARLES C. BLACKMORIL

